Carpet Care Tips &Improving Your Indoor Environment

A good checklist to handle spills should include the following items. Do not use any household cleaners other than those listed, since many household products contain chemicals that may permanently damage your carpet.

A solution of a mild liquid detergent (no more than 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). A clear. non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is recommended. Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue.

A solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.

White cloths or white paper towels.

An ammonia solution of one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. Do not use on wool.

Non-oily nail polish remover

Chewing gum remover (freeze or solid type).

Spot remover specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.

NOTE: Difficult stains on carpets made from solution-dyed fibers such as polypropylene may be removed with a mild bleach solution ( one part chlorine bleach to five parts water).
WARNING: Do not use bleach solution unless you are absolutely certain your carpet is 100% solution dyed. Carpet dyed by other systems will be damaged. If in doubt, call 408-448-2016

General Instructions

Prompt attention to spots and spills is essential. No carpet is stain proof, although many are stain resistant, which allows time to act.

Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.

Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or cloth towels.

Always blot, never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill.

Always follow up with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.

Draw out any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object that will not transfer color such as a plastic jug of water.

STAIN

REMOVAL
PROCEDURE

Alcoholic
Beverages

A

Asphalt

B, PRESTIGE

Beer

A

Betadine

PRESTIGE

Berries

A

Blood (wet)

A

Blood (dry)

A-2

Butter

B

Chewing Gum

C

Chocolate

A-2

Coffee

A-1 (D if
necessary)

Cola Drinks

A

Cosmetics

A (D if necessary)

Crayon

B

De-icer (Calcium
Chloride)

Vacuum, A

Excrement

A

Food Dyes

A

Furniture Polish

B, PRESTIGE

Glue (white)

A

Gravy

A

Grease (Auto)

B, PRESTIGE

Grease (Food)

B

Ice Cream

A

Ink (Ballpoint)

B, PRESTIGE

Ink (Permanent)

B, (D if
necessary)

Ink (Washable)

A, PRESTIGE

Jelly

A

Lipstick

B

Milk

A

Mud

A

Mustard

A, (D if
necessary)

Nail Polish

Polish Remover

Paint (Latex, wet)

A

Paint (Latex, dry)

B

Paint (Oil)

B, PRESTIGE

Rust

PRESTIGE

Shoe Polish

B

Tea

A. (D if
necessary)

Urine

A-1, PRESTIGE

Vomit

A-1

Wax

C

Wine

A-2

Stain Removal Procedures -
The following recommendations should be used for spot cleaning. The
numbers are keyed to the stain, and all instructions should be used in the
recommended sequence. Some stains are marked PRO, indicating that
professional knowledge and equipment are necessary.

Water Soluble Stains -
Absorb as much as possible with white towels. Blot the stained area with
white towels dampened with cool water until there is no more transfer of
the stain onto the towels.

If any of the stain remains, use the detergent solution previously
described. Spray lightly onto the spot and blot repeatedly with white
towels, working from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to
avoid spreading.

Rinse thoroughly by spraying with clean water, then blot or extract, do
not use too much detergent because the residue will contribute to rapid
re-soiling

A-1. As in A, but before using detergent, apply the white
vinegar solution to a white towel and blot or spray onto spot.

A-2. As in A, but
before using detergent, apply a house-hold ammonia solution to a white
towel and blot or spray onto spot. Do not use on wool or
wool-blend carpet. Rinse as in A.

Oil-Based Stains --
Blot as much as possible with white paper towels. Apply the special oil
and grease spot remover to a paper towel and repeat blotting.
(protective gloves should be worn, as the solvent will quickly remove
oils from the skin and could result in irritation.) Do not pour or spray
directly on the carpet pile, as damage to the backing or adhesive
underneath could result; use the towels to transport the solvent to the
carpet. Repeat as often as necessary.
Provide adequate ventilation! Do not use flammable solvents! Follow
with procedures in A.

Freeze stains such
as chewing gum and candle wax with ice or a commercially available
product in an aerosol can. Shatter with a blunt object and vacuum before
the chips soften. Follow up with solvent as in B.

Bleach -- WARNING -- Only carpets which are solution dyed are resistant to
bleaching, but do not exceed the recommended concentration. DO NOT
USE THIS PROCEDURE UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THE CARPET IS
SOLUTION DYED - CARPETS DYED BY OTHER SYSTEMS WILL BE DAMAGED.
Products with olefin and nylon blends can not be exposed to bleach
without removing the color from the nylon fibers unless the nylon
component is solution dyed. If in doubt, call 408-448-2016.

During the 1960's and 1970's, much of our nation's focus was on the
pollution of our outdoor environment, but recently our focus has shifted
to pollution of our indoor environment.

Concern for fuel economy in the early
1970's led to changed in construction techniques and building design to
prevent the loss of temperature-controlled air from buildings. Airtight
structures keep air inside, but they also prevent the flow of fresh air
from outside. Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
determined that our indoor environment has two to five times more
pollutants than outside air.

The quality of our indoor air has become
more important to us in recent years in that the average American spends
over 20 hours a day inside a closed structure. We spend 90 percent of our
lives indoors. Heightened consumer healthy awareness has placed an
emphasis on improving the quality of our indoor environment.

Carpet plays a vital, positive role in
indoor air quality. It acts as an environmental filter, trapping and
holding impurities from the air we breathe. The EPA and carpet industry
findings indicate that the proper ventilation of new carpet, carpet itself
does not contribute negatively to indoor air quality. But, the buildup of
soil in carpet does. Upholstery fabric also harbors soil and contaminants.

According to Michael A. Berry, Ph D,
former Deputy Director of the EPA Environmental Criteria and Assessment
Office, the single leading cause of poor indoor air quality is build
environments today is poor maintenance. Carpet and upholstery must be
cleaned to remove trapped contaminants before they overflow and are
released back into the indoor air.

For a healthier indoor environment, the
Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
recommends:

Vacuum frequently. A
vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency filtration bag removes soils and
biocontaminants from carpet and upholstery and reduces the release of
respirable particles in the air. These bags are now available for most
models of vacuum cleaners at retail stores that carry vacuum cleaners
and accessories.

Periodically have carpet and
upholstery professionally cleaned. Thorough cleaning removes
soil and pollutants to improve air quality. Contact PRESTIGE Carpet
and Upholstery Cleaning at 408-448-2016, a IICRC certified
professional firm trained in the proper use of cleaning agents and
equipment.

Control the sources.
Entrance mats halt tracked-in soil and contaminants. Tobacco smoke,
which is trapped in carpet and upholstery fabric, is a major source of
indoor pollution.

Increase fresh air flow.
Our ancestors knew what they were doing when they opened windows to air
out buildings.

Clean for Health. Carpet
and upholstery fabric hide soil. Don't just clean for appearance when
the accumulation of soil becomes visible.